A02 – Cross-talk between dying and bystander cells in vitro and in vivo: an optogenetics approach

Ana J. Garcia-Saez
Institute for genetics, CECAD, University of Cologne
Contact: garcia-office(at)uni-koeln.de
For more information see: Garcia-Saez lab

Manolis Pasparakis
Institute for genetics, CECAD, University of Cologne
Contact: pasparakis(at)uni-koeln.de
For more information see: Pasparakis lab
Abstract
Currently available tools do not allow studying the cross-talk between dying and bystander cells in a spatially and temporally resolved manner. The project aims to develop optogenetically regulated systems allowing the precisely controlled induction of different forms of cell death at a single cell level and use them to study the cross-talk between dying and bystander cells in vitro and in vivo. By employing selective light-controlled activation of different death effectors, this project will study how the different types of cell death shape tissue responses and the underlying mechanisms.

Recent Publications
Ros U, Martinez-Osorio V, Valiente PA, Abdelwahab Y, Gojkovic M, Shalaby R, Zanna S, Saggau J, Wachsmuth L, Nemade HN, Zoeller J, Lottermoser H, Chen YG, Ibrahim M, Kelepouras K, Vasilikos L, Bedoya P, Espiritu RA, Müller S, Altmannova V, Tieleman DP, Weir J, Langer J, Adam M, Walczak H, Wong WW, Liccardi G, Mollenhauer M, Pasparakis M, Peltzer N, García-Sáez AJ. MLKL activity requires a splicing-regulated, druggable intramolecular interaction. Mol Cell. 2025 Apr 3:S1097-2765(25)00259-X. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2025.03.015. Epub vor dem Druck. PMID: 40209701
Roeck BF, Lotfipour Nasudivar S, Vorndran MRH, Schueller L, Yapici FI, Rübsam M, von Karstedt S, Niessen CM, Garcia-Saez AJ. Ferroptosis spreads to neighboring cells via plasma membrane contacts. Nat Commun. 2025 Mar 26;16(1):2951. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-58175-w. PMID: 40140422; PMCID: PMC11947162.
Etxebeste-Mitxeltorena M, Flores-Romero H, Ramos-Inza S, Masiá E, Nenchova M, Montesinos J, Martinez-Gonzalez L, Porras G, Orzáez M, Vicent MJ, Gil C, Area-Gomez E, Garcia-Saez AJ, Martinez A. Modulation of Mitochondria-Endoplasmic Reticulum Contacts (MERCs) by Small Molecules as a New Strategy for Restoring Lipid Metabolism in an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Model. J Med Chem. 2025 Jan 8. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01368. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39778888.